Consultation outcome

Wet wipes containing plastic: proposed ban on the manufacture, supply and sale

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Welsh Government, The Scottish Government and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
Published
14 October 2023
Last updated
22 April 2024 — See all updates
This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Summary of responses and government response

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Detail of outcome

We received 1,561 responses to the consultation. As a result of this consultation, the UK Government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive will introduce legislation to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

Original consultation

Summary

The UK Government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland want your view on a proposed ban on the manufacture, supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in the UK. The proposal is aimed at reducing plastic and microplastic pollution, particularly in our waters.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

We want to find out what your views are on banning the manufacture, supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in the UK. We are seeking views on:

  • the likely impact of the proposed ban on the businesses who manufacture, supply or sell wet wipes containing plastic
  • the likely impact of the proposed ban for consumers, particularly for those with protected characteristics, e.g. disabled people
  • any wider impacts of keeping plastic containing wet wipes in circulation
  • any wider impacts of wipes marketed as alternative or plastic-free
  • the composition of alternative wet wipes
  • if any exemptions are needed for wet wipes containing plastic
  • the proposed timeframe for the commencement of the ban

This consultation is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Alongside the consultation document, we have published an economic annex which contains information regarding the potential economic impacts of the proposal.

The Scottish Government requires that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), which provide further information regarding the potential wider environmental and economic impacts of the proposal, are available.

Updates to this page

Published 14 October 2023
Last updated 22 April 2024 + show all updates

  1. We have added the summary of responses and government response.

  2. First published.

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